outcast

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'outcast' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person who has been rejected by a society or community. For example, "John was an outcast in his hometown due to his strange behavior and refusal to conform to their beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suárez's public outburst against Liverpool, in an interview with the Guardian, has backfired on him, with the order to train away from the squad effectively signalling that he has become an outcast because of his desire to leave for Arsenal and what Rodgers regards as a lack of respect for the club and his team-mates.

The Guardian - Sport

Depression makes you feel alone, afraid, an outcast.

The Guardian - Opinion

I think this was the time my father started to identify with the outcast, and that led to him joining the Labour party.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The previous management's borrowing binge left Petrobras as the most indebted company in the world, and when the scandal broke an outcast from the capital markets.Openness about the past will not forestall American shareholders who are fuming about mismanagement; some have already sued.

The Economist

Mr Okruashvili now looks like the jilted outcast of a clan that bends the law in its own interests.

The Economist

Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.ukARTHUR RIMBAUD, the enfant terrible of French 19th-century poetry and outcast from Parisian literary life, was unaware that his final work, "Illuminations", was ever published.

The Economist

The true Bourne legacy is the number of movies that portray our own intelligence agencies as the villains.The outcast agent may not be a new plot idea James Bond went rogue back in 1989 in "Licence to Kill"—but "The Bourne Identity" made a deep, fresh impression in 2002.

The Economist

Benton had developed an ultra-American outcast persona and liked constantly to use four-letter words with the press.

The Economist

She has come to think of herself as a woman who has fallen overboard and has nowhere to swim.And then she embarks on an affair with a poacher and outcast called Luther Fox.

The Economist

Damien Echols, a local outcast known to hold an interest in the occult, and his friends Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley junior, were arrested.Media frenzy, spurred on by the public furore, accompanied a hurried and flawed investigation.

The Economist

Yet, at the time of his death, Camus found himself an outcast in Paris, snubbed by Jean-Paul Sartre and other left-bank intellectuals, and denounced for his freethinking refusal to yield to fashionable political views.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outcast", consider the specific reasons for exclusion. Providing context enhances the reader's understanding and avoids generalizations.

Common error

Avoid using "outcast" loosely to describe anyone who is simply different. The term implies a deliberate act of rejection or banishment, not just nonconformity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outcast" is as a noun or adjective. As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it identifies individuals or groups actively excluded from society. Examples in Ludwig show it describing individuals rejected by communities or entities facing societal disapproval.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

32%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "outcast" functions as a noun or adjective to describe individuals or groups excluded from society. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While its register is generally neutral, the specific context dictates the level of formality. When using "outcast", ensure the situation involves active exclusion rather than mere difference. Synonyms like "pariah" and "rejected" can provide nuanced alternatives. Remember, clear context enhances understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pariah

A more formal and often harsher term for someone rejected by society.

rejected

Focuses on the act of being turned away or dismissed.

excluded

Highlights the state of being kept out of a group or activity.

marginalized

Emphasizes being pushed to the edges of society, often due to discrimination.

persona non grata

A formal term indicating someone is not welcome or accepted.

untouchable

Implies a social status so low that contact is considered taboo.

exile

Refers to someone forced to leave their home or country.

disenfranchised

Highlights the loss of rights or privileges.

isolated

Focuses on the feeling of being alone and cut off from others.

alienated

Describes a feeling of estrangement or disconnection.

FAQs

How is the term "outcast" typically used in a sentence?

The term "outcast" is typically used as a noun or adjective to describe someone who has been rejected or excluded from a group or society. For example, "He became an outcast after disagreeing with the community's rules".

What are some synonyms for "outcast"?

Some synonyms for "outcast" include "pariah", "reject", "exile", and "persona non grata".

What distinguishes an "outcast" from someone who is simply "different"?

An "outcast" is actively excluded or rejected by a group, whereas someone who is simply "different" may not conform to social norms but is not necessarily ostracized. Exclusion is the defining characteristic of an outcast, unlike someone who's just different.

When is it appropriate to use the term "outcast"?

It's appropriate to use "outcast" when someone has experienced a deliberate act of rejection or banishment from a community or group. Ensure the context supports the implication of active exclusion rather than mere difference.